Radio control



E. B. NEWILL RADIO CONTROL Dec. 15, 1931.

Filed May 31, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY fr/rvm 'n Arl/Z/7 ,gg 7 ATTORNEY! De. 15, 1931. E, B, E L 1,836,490

RADIO CONTROL Filed May 31, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY yum/J14 & ATTORNEYS Dec. 15, 1931.

E. BONEWILL RADIO CONTROL Filed May 31, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD BROWN NEWILL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR' TO GENERAL MOTORS RADIO CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO RADIO CONTROL Application filed; May 31,

This invention relates to indicator means improve the same.

- it may be connected.

A. further object of the invention is to provide an indicator scale that will be clearly indicative of controlled devices with whlch A further object of the invention is to provide adequate means for illuminating an indicator scale.

A further object is to improve control means in so far as to provide a structure that readily lends itself to low cost of manufacture and mass production.

Further objects and advantages of the pres ent invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a radio instrument, with parts of the panel broken away to show certain features of the re ceiving mechanism, including the instant imceiver, showing a portion of the chassis in section substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a portion 0 the radio receiver illustrating some of the features of the instant invention.

' Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section of an indicator mechanism contributing to the instant invention and is that view substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 66 of Fig. 5.

With particular reference to the drawings,

indicates a panel of a radio instrument providing a=baseboard 21 carrying a radio receiver 40.. The panel 20 provides inspec- 1930. Serial No. 457,685.

tion apertures 23 and 24 covered by moldings or bezels 25 and 26 disposed opposite appropriate scales supported by the receiver. The panel 20 likewise has provision for the reception of control shafts 27, 28, 29, 30, and each of these control shafts may be provided with an appropriate control knob 31 or 32 as illustrated in Fig. 1, whereby the devices may be manipulated from without the instrument case.

The receiver mechanism 40, in main includes a chassis frame 41 surmounted by condenser shielding means 42, which encloses a bank of condenser rotors 43 mounted upon a shaft 44 and cooperable with the stator blades 45, to effect tuning of the instrument as is usual and well known to those experienced in the art. In the illustrated embodi ment rotation of the condenser shaft 44 for tuning the instrument, is accomplished by a drum 46 secured to the shaft 44 that is driven from the control shaft 30. The selector shaft is journalled in a part of the chassis frame 41 as by a U bracket 47. The shaft 30 supports a drving pulley 48 to which is secured and about which is wound a driving'belt or other flexible element 49 passing through apertures 50 and 51 of the chassis after which it is trained over the drum 46 to a point 52, where the ends of the element 49 make connection with a tension device 53 anchored to a lug 54 carried by the drum.

From this it is seen that rotation of the control shaft 30 will drive the condenser assembly through the drum 46 and the flexible connection 49 leading therefrom to the pulley 48. In some structures the flexible element 49 may lie substantially within the same plane, but in the instance embodiment it is desired to arrange the shafts 30 and 44 substantially at right angles to one another, and to train the flexible element 49 over either pulley 55 and 56' supported by a bracket 57 secured to the chassis 41 at or near the apertures 50 and 51, so as to translate the motion from one plane to another, all as illustrated in the drawings.

In the illustrated embodiment the selector shaft 44 carries a crank 60 that is rotatable therewith, and at a certain predetermined angular position of the shaft, the crank engages a bifurcated arm 61 of a switch, operatively pivoted to a bracket 62 which arm operates to oscillate a switch lever 68 of a cut-out switch 64, also carried by the chassis 41. This provision is made for the purpose of cutting out certain portions of the radio receiver, as one or more stages, when it is desired to switch in a phonograph or pick up,

or other auxiliary device of similar charac ter. It is obvious that a certain manipulation of the control shaft 30 will operate to drive the drum 46 and thereby actuate the crank 60 to engage the pivoted lever 61 whereby the switch lever 63 will be actuated. By positioning the crank 60 upon the shaft 44 at substantially one extreme of the tuning movement thereof, thence it will not interfere. with the usual tuning function of the mechanism, but on the other hand will provide an additional control with the elimination of certain parts of structure.

Means are provided for indicating the relative position or condition of the tuning device, and in the illustrated embodiment includes a guide bar or rail 70 secured to the chassis 41 by screws or other devices 71, and running a substantial length thereof and parallel to the panel 20 substantially as indicated. Movable along the guide 70 is an indicator 72 that provides an index point 7 3 disposed opposite the inspection aperture 23, where it is to be observed against a scale 74 supported by the condenser shieldin 42, through the agency of a bracket 75 adjustably secured thereto by screws or other devices 76. The scale 74 may carry any desired indicia, and is preferably illuminated by a lamp 77 carried by bracket 78 secured to the shielding 42 as at 79. lVhere the scale 74 is an elongated one as illustrated, two or more lamps may be used, but in any event it is preferred to mount them at one side of the scale 74, and thence provide a mirror 80 supported by the bracket 75 to reflect the light rays therefrom upon the scale 74.

The pointer 72 is of novel formation asexhibited in thedrawings, being formed in main of a channel member providing parallel flanges 86 and 87, each of which terminates in or is provided with an apertured ear 88 for reception of a retaining pin 89.

"From the bridge portion 90 of the pointer,

' point 73 hereinbefore referred to.

the index arm extends and terminates in the The means for retaining the pointer upon the guide rod 70 is particularly illustrated in Fig. 6, where it is seen that the flanges 86 and 87 are disposed above and below the rail 70 so that the ears 88 project to the rear thereof. Against the back of the rail 7 O is then disposed a fibrous pad 91, the middle portion of which has been provided with a pair of tucks 92 and 93 substantially coextensive with the ears 88. The tucks of the pad may be formed in any desired manner, but in substance leave the oppositely extending tongues 94 lying along the body of the rail 70, against which are disposed the tension arms 95 of a bow like spring 96. This spring is provided with reentrant bends to engage the tucks 92 and 93 and rests beneath the retaining pin 89'. Thus, means are provided that maintain the pointer and slide in close engagement with the rail 70, yet permit the pointer to slide along the rail without noise and without material resistance.

Means are provided to drive the pointer 72 along the rail 70 in response to manipulation of the control shaft 80 and thus in response to the selector device, by securing to the pointer a flexible element 97 as at 98 and training the same over a drive pulley 99 secured to the shaft 30. The flexible element 97 not only is trained over the pulley 99 a number of times as is illustrated in Figs, 2 and 4, but is secured in non-slip relation thereto and thence carried over an idler 100, after which the ends of the flexible element 97 are united by any desired take up or tension means 101, here illustrated in Fig. 5 as a spring. From this it will be seen that manipulation of the control or selector shaft 30 drives with it the shaft 44, and when. properly adjusted the pointer 72 will move along the rail 70, whereby the index point 73 in cooperation with the scale 74 will be clearly indicative of the controlled condition of the selector device.

In the instant embodiment, the receiver is provided also with a tone quality control, the operating shaft of which is designated at 27, and this shaft is appropriately fitted with a driving pulley about which is trained, 5 and to which is secured, a flexible driving element 106 that is secured to a pointer 107 at 108. This pointer is carried by a rail 109 secured to the chassis 41 at 110 by screws or similar devices. The flexible element 106 110 thence trains over an idler 111 and makes connection with the other end of the element by a tension or take-up means 112. The pointer 107 is essentially the'same in construction and manner of mounting as is the pointer 72. Its primary difference is in thelength of the indicating arm carrying the index point 113, that is of the proper length to be readily cooperable with an appropriate scale 114 supported by brackets 115 opposite the inspection aperture 24 of the panel.

The scale 114 in this instance, as in the other is supported by a bracket 115 fixed to the front wall of the chassis 41, as by rivets or equivalent means 116. The chassis is apertured at 117 to admit the transmission of light rays of a lamp 118 supported by a bracket 119 secured to the chassis 41 as at 120. The bracket 119 may provide an extension 121, or otherwise support a reflector 122, for 1 Upon reference to the drawings, particularly Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that the indicator mechanism and transmission means therefor as well as the control means themselves, and the attendant luminaries, are entirely supported by the receiving mechanism, and yet are disposed in position for clear observation with respect to their respective inspection apertures provided by the panel. However, so far as the invention goes it is immaterial whether the instrument be provided with a front'panel and inspection apertures, or whether the indicating pointers are otherwise observable with respect to their relative scales. In either event rotation of the respective control shafts is transmitted or translated by reason of the flexible elements to lineal movement of the pointers along their respective guide rods, and will, when properly adjusted with respect thereto properly indicate the operated condition of.

the several and respective devices. The lamps behind the scales will clearly set out their relative position. The pointers are always responsive to manipulation of their respective controlled devices due to the take-up means interposed in each of the belts. Thus slight movement of either of the control shafts 27 or 30 will be easily transmitted to the corresponding scale.

While the form of embodiment ofthe present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a radio receiving apparatus, the combination .of a tuning shaft, a control shaft, a guide rail, a pointer carried for movement along the rail, a dial strip near the path of the free end of the pointer, a mirror behind the strip, means illuminating said dial strip,

' and flexible means trained about the control shaft for driving the tuning shaft and for translating therotation of the control shaft to movement of the pointer along said rail.

2. The combination with a radio receiving mechanism including control devices having a rotary element, and a panel at one side of said device providing inspection apertures, of a support in the rear of said panel providing guide rails, pointers carried by the rails, and providing index points behind said apertures, an illuminated scale carried by the support in cooperable relation with said index points, and means translating movement of the control devices to longitudinal movement of the pointers along their respective rails, said means including a flexible element drivingly connecting the rotary element with one of the control devices.

a rotary element, a panel at one side of said support in the rear of said panel providing guide rails, pointers carried by the rails, and providing index points behind said apertures, said pointers comprising a channel member substantially embracing the guide rail, a retaining pm carried by the flange 'of said channel, and means engaging the rail and pin maintaining the pointer thereon, and means translating the movement of the rotary element to' movement of the pointer along said rail.

4. The combination with a radio receiving mechanism including control devices of a guide rail, a pointer carried by-the guide rail, said pointer providing apertured ears on opposite sides of the rail, a retaining pin carried by said ears, cushioning means engaging the rail and pin whereby the pointer is movable along said rail without material resistance, and means responsive to the control device for moving the pointer along said rail.

5. The combination with a radio receiving mechanism including control devices having a rotary element, a panel'at one side of said device providing inspection apertures of a guide rail supported by said receiving mechanism, a pointer carried by the rail with a part thereof disposed for observation through one of said apertures, an indicator strip behind said pointer, a bracket supporting the indicator strip from the receiver mechanism, and means carried by the saidmechanism illuminating the indicator stri'p," said rotary element being operable to mdve the pointer along said rail.

6. The combination with a radio receiver,

mechanism including control devices having a rotatable element, a panel at one side of said device providing inspection apertures, a guide rod carried by the receiving mechanism, an indicator scale carried by a part of the mechanism and supporting a mirror, an illuminator. provided by the receiving mechanism and cooperable with the mirror to ililluminating the scale, said scale being sup-, ported from the receiving, mechanism by a bracket, and carrying a reflecting surface.

transmitting the illumination of the lamp to the scale.

8. In a radio receiving apparatus the comblnation with an indicator scale, a pointer movable in front of the scale, said scale and po inter being supported by the chassis of sald apparatus, a bracket secured within the 4' I w i r 1,886,490-

' chassis and supporting a lamp socket and a reflector, said chassis providing an illumination aperture for the transmission of reflect: edlight upon said scale. l

5 9. In aradio receiving mechanism the com bination comprising, a cabinet providing inspection apertures and passages for control shafts, a radio chassis including a rotatable tuning unit, and means for driving the said unit from'a control shaft, a guide rail carried by the chassis and provided with a pointer slidable thereon, a scale strip mounted on the chassis in cooperation with the I pointer, said pointer and scale being so posi- 'tioned as to be disposed opposite the inspection apertures of the cabinet and to provide manipulation of the control shaft Without the cabinet, said means for driving the tuning unit comprising a flexible element trained about the control shaft, and said pointer responding to the movement of said tuning unit. I

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

25, DWARD BROWN NEWILL. 

